Organic meat processor to close after dispute

VILLAGE OF BLACK EARTH (AP) – A popular organic meat processor has decided to close after a dispute with village of Black Earth officials.

Owner Bartlett Durand says Black Earth Meats expects to close by the end of July after it lost its loan with the Bank of New Glarus. That followed the Village Board’s decision last month to pursue legal action to stop the company’s operations at its present site.

Durand tells the Wisconsin State Journal the board made its decision after the company outlined four options to move the slaughter facility out of town.

Durand says 22 employees will lose their jobs.

Village President Patrick Troge said in May that Black Earth Meats had grown too big for its facility and was disrupting village services and creating problems for neighbors, including a school.